Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs
Posted by GlennJune 21-22 2007
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Thursday:
Lihue, Kauai – 85F
Honolulu, Oahu – 88
Kaneohe, Oahu – 83
Kahului, Maui – 88
Hilo, Hawaii – 84
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 84
Temperatures early Friday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Honolulu, Oahu – 76F
Hilo, Hawaii – 69
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Friday morning:
1.09 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.08 OAHU FOREST NWR, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.05 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.71 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.37 GLENWOOD, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a strong 1037 millibar high pressure system far to the NNW of the islands. The trade winds will gradually increase into Saturday, as this high pressure cell moves closer to the Hawaiian Islands. Here’s a Weather Map Symbol page for clarification about what all those weather symbols mean on the map.
Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon cloud conditions.
Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific – Here’s the latest information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
Satellite Images – To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with the Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around the state during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean…out from the islands. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.
Looks inviting to me!
Thursday is the first day of summer 2007, opening the way for a long hot summer here in the Hawaiian Islands. Weather maps show a relatively strong 1036 millibar high pressure system far to our NNW now. As the pressure gradient across the islands increases some, our local trade winds will bump-up a notch through Friday. The small craft wind advisory around Maui and the Big Island waters has been activated again in response to these somewhat strong winds. The trade winds will remain breezy through the rest of this week into next week.
Relatively dry conditions will continue, although some the windward sides, and the mountains on the smaller islands will continue to see occasional passing showers. However, without any upper level troughs of low pressure in our vicinity, there won’t be any significant change in our rainfall pattern. Those windward biased showers will fall most generously during the cooler night and early morning hours as usual. The leeward sides will see extensive morning sunshine, with the usual afternoon scattered clouds developing locally.
It’s Thursday here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this last paragraph of today’s narrative. We begin our summer 2007 season today, which is expected to be a rather dry one here in the islands. This dry weather has prompted drought conditions along the leeward sides of both Maui and the Big Island. The windward sides, which often, even during the dry season, often receive at least light passing showers…carried in by the prevailing trade wind flow. What we would like to see is a wet trade wind pattern develop, that or some heavy afternoon showers caused by light winds and an upper level low pressure system in our area. Glancing at the latest weather information sources, neither of these rain producing agents are going to be manifesting anytime soon. As a matter of fact, it would be unusual to see either of these drought breaking choices! The only other chance for water would be to see some form of tropical storm passing close to our near the islands, which could bring in some much needed precipitation. This kind of thing isn’t totally out of the question, although tropical storms usually don’t enter Hawaiian waters until later in the summer months…if at all. So, we have to tighten our belts, in terms of water usage, and try to conserve our precious water in the upcountry areas here on Maui at least. ~~~ I hope you have a great first day of summer wherever you are experiencing it! I’ll be back early Friday morning with your next weather narrative. Aloha for now…Glenn.
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